Man Collapses, Dies During Lake Wobegon Marathon

ST.  JOSEPH  (AP) — A 35-year-old man has collapsed and died while taking part in the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon that started in St. Joseph, Minn.

St. Cloud Hospital nursing supervisor Mary Loecken says the man collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the course. He was pronounced dead Saturday a little less than five hours after the race had started.

She said officials were withholding the man's identity while notifying relatives, but called the incident a tragedy.

The course the runners were taking is considered flat and fast, winding through the tiny towns of Holdingford, Albany, Avon and St. Joseph just to the northwest of the city of St. Cloud.

Earlier in the day, a man collapsed and died in Grand Rapids, Mich. during a 25-kilometer race.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.